Darius wants more than anything to believe the words, but the pain in his chest has nearly hit the point of unbearable.
Sunday. Please. Please stay safe. We will be there soon.
47
October 12th
“Don’t leave a message, I don’t check my voicemail.”
Axel’s voicemail plays out for the thirtieth time as I drive down the road. I have tried to reach all of the brothers, but none of them have answered the phone.
I don’t have much more time.
“Fuck!” I scream, throwing the phone down next to me.
My knuckles grip the wheel tighter in anxiety. Each turn causes a flash of terror that I am going to somehow roll the truck. I haven’t driven a vehicle since…well, since the short distance to the restaurant when I acted as bait. And Darius’s truck is large, loud, and clunky. But it is getting me there. Closer to Maxwell.
But then what?
The phone call plays over and over again in my head.
“Oh, so you do recognize my voice. You took everything from me, Sunday School. My brother, my home, my women. Even my fucking mother! She cared more about you than she should!” Maxwell’s voice was pitching in every octave, unhinged and incredibly chaotic. “So I took Veronica and her sniveling brother. I was just going to kill them both for their betrayal, but then I realized…you are the cause of every single thing in my life. I’ll tell you what church girl. Meet me where Tripp and Augustus died. If you do I’ll let Veronica and William go. But if you don’t?”
The threat hung for just a few secondsbefore he continued.
“Tick-tock, Sunday. Before sunset.”
And then the call had disconnected.
“Fuck!” The sun was setting, slowly sinking down and down. Barely any light was visible as I made my way towards where it all began.
Towards where Rayden shot me.
Towards where Auggie and Tripp died.
Towards where I found Julia’s body.
When I am five minutes out, the sky opens up, rain begins to pelt the windshield and my ability to see diminishes.
At a stop light, I shift my attention to my phone.
Grabbing it, I dial the number that had been calling me on repeat.
“Where the fuck are you? I showed up at the restaurant to get your ass and you were gone.”
“I need your help,” I say as I turn on the bend of road I will be parking on.
“Of course you fucking do. What have you done this time?”
“Listen, Luna. Maxwell, he called me. He has Veronica and William.” My voice is panicked, erratic.
Luna goes silent. The air in my lungs is expanding painfully as I wait for her response. I pull off on the shoulder of the road, putting the vehicle in park.
Lightning illuminates the sky.
“Sunday,” Luna’s tone has changed. “I’ll call my mom. Where are you? We’ll be there soon.”
She doesn’t even bother mentioning to call the cops. Even if William and Veronica are the sheriff’s kids that doesn’t mean anyone in town will help them.
